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The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) supports California AB 3129, arguing that the bill is necessary to protect the financial stability of state health systems from the negative impacts of private equity consolidation. PESP cites examples of private equity-owned entities in California, such as Prospect Medical Holdings and Pipeline Health, as evidence of profiteering and poor patient care. The testimony highlights a broader trend of private equity healthcare buyouts, which peaked in 2021 with 515 deals valued at $151 billion, and argues that such investments often involve looting safety net hospitals and cutting essential services for short-term profit.

The Center for International Environmental Law examines the "Insuring Our Future Act" (Assembly Bill A9905A/Senate Bill S9435) in New York. The bill targets the contradiction of insurance companies raising premiums due to climate-driven disasters while continuing to finance the fossil fuel industry. It proposes a five-year phase-out of fossil fuel investments and underwriting, alongside protections against "bluelining" and sudden non-renewals for policyholders.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) testifies in support of California AB 3129, arguing that the bill is necessary to increase oversight of private equity and hedge fund acquisitions in the healthcare sector. PESP highlights instances of private equity-owned hospital chains in California, such as Prospect Medical Holdings and Pipeline Health, as examples of how such investments can lead to profiteering and diminished patient care. The document asserts that private equity consolidation in U.S. healthcare reached a peak in 2021 with 515 buyouts valued at $151 billion, often involving tactics like looting safety net hospitals and cutting unprofitable services.

The Southwest United States experienced an extreme heat event from June 6 to June 13, 2024, with human-caused climate change making high temperatures at least five times more likely. The event caused record-setting temperatures in cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas, led to numerous hospitalizations for heat exhaustion, and contributed to wildfires in California.

The document argues that the U.S. coal fleet is already in a sustained economic decline, making the EPA's emissions rules a catalyst for prudent utility planning rather than a source of economic or reliability risk. It asserts that the 2032 compliance timeline is sufficient for utilities to procure replacement resources, citing hundreds of gigawatts of 'shovel-ready' projects in interconnection queues. The authors maintain that 'baseload' coal is no longer necessary for grid stability, as portfolios of wind, solar, battery storage, and low-utilization gas can meet peak loads and growing demand without compromising reliability.

The document outlines the gTech-IESD modeling framework used to assess Canadian carbon pricing. It details ten policy scenarios ranging from 'No policy' to 'Announced policies with binding LETS systems', alongside sensitivity analyses for oil prices and technology costs. The report specifies macroeconomic inputs from the PBO and CER, and provides a comprehensive inventory of legislated and announced federal and provincial climate policies, including fuel charges, Large Emitter Trading Systems (LETS), and various investment tax credits.

Earthjustice and partner organizations urge the EPA to reject California's SIP revisions, claiming they create loopholes for oil and gas polluters. The authors argue that RACT must apply to all wells regardless of production volume or oil gravity, and that the EPA failed to conduct a required environmental justice analysis. They contend that current exemptions for heavy oil and low-production wells disproportionately harm frontline communities and that monitoring and reporting frequencies are insufficient to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act.

The statement emphasizes the necessity of accurate environmental reporting to address the 'triple planetary crisis' of pollution, climate, and biodiversity loss. It notes that environmental journalism is among the most dangerous beats, second only to war reporting, particularly for citizen journalists from Indigenous communities.

The report details the systemic impacts of plastic pollution on municipal infrastructure, public health, and ecosystems, asserting that a small number of petrochemical and FMCG companies knowingly exacerbated the crisis by promoting inadequate recycling solutions. It provides a guide for government attorneys to use nuisance, products liability, and consumer protection laws to hold these polluters accountable, drawing parallels to successful litigation against the tobacco and PCB industries.

The report argues that achieving cost-optimal carbon neutrality in Canada's building sector requires a massive shift toward electrification, primarily through heat pumps, and a significant reduction in gas network reliance. It warns that current regulatory inertia and the continued expansion of gas infrastructure create risks of 'stranded assets' and higher costs for taxpayers. The authors recommend that provincial governments provide clear long-term strategic guidance, mandate net-zero targets, and empower regulators to prioritize electrification over gas expansion to protect long-term affordability and reliability.

The report finds that a cost-optimal path to net zero in Canada requires a massive shift toward electrification of building heat, with electricity powering 78% to 91% of annual space heating demand by 2050. It argues that continued expansion of gas networks is inconsistent with these goals and risks creating stranded assets. The analysis highlights a critical gap in provincial policy leadership, noting that current utility regulation—which incentivizes infrastructure growth—is ill-suited for the energy transition. To mitigate risks, the report recommends that provincial governments legislate net zero targets, mandate electrification for new buildings, and equip regulators to manage the gradual contraction of gas networks while investing in electricity capacity and peak demand management.

The document argues that a just transition requires wealthy, high-emitting nations to phase out fossil fuels first and fastest while providing financial and technological support to less wealthy countries. It outlines a broad menu of policy tools across resource management, financial markets, fiscal and monetary policy, economic diversification, and global governance to manage the decline of fossil fuel production and consumption equitably.

The report identifies significant barriers to grid battery deployment in South Africa, including an outdated electricity sector framework, insufficient understanding of battery capabilities, and economic challenges related to capital access and revenue stacking. It highlights the potential for local value chain development in lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries, while warning of environmental risks in raw material extraction and the danger of technological lock-in. The authors propose a series of priority actions, including the alignment of national planning documents, the establishment of a market for ancillary services, and the implementation of pragmatic local content requirements in procurement.

A Union of Concerned Scientists analysis of non-transportation BIL awards in California from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 indicates that local investments are likely falling short of Justice40 goals. Depending on the screening tool used, only 9.4% to 18.2% of analyzed local funding is flowing to designated disadvantaged communities. The report highlights significant data gaps, particularly regarding statewide formula funding, and recommends a transparent, unified tracking system and a clear definition of 'benefits' to ensure equitable infrastructure spending.

The document describes a spatial and recipient-based analysis of federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding in California from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2023. It compares two environmental justice screening tools—the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) and California's SB 535—to identify disadvantaged communities. The analysis focuses on non-transportation grants, as transportation spending accounted for over 88 percent of the total obligated spending ($16.07 billion) and is tracked separately by the state. The authors highlight significant data limitations in USASpending.gov, including agency non-reporting and inaccuracies in 'place of performance' fields, which may hinder the tracking of Justice40 goals.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analysis finds that climate-driven sea level rise will expose over 1,600 critical infrastructure assets in the US to disruptive flooding at least twice per year by 2050. Public and affordable housing are the most vulnerable assets, with a disproportionate burden falling on disadvantaged communities. By 2100, the scale of risk depends heavily on global emissions, with the high scenario potentially affecting 15,081 assets. The report recommends science-informed planning, scaled-up funding, and a focus on reducing historical inequities to build coastal resilience.

The report argues that decentralized election administration in the US has created a patchwork of transparency policies that can undermine democratic legitimacy and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. It provides specific recommendations for improving the accessibility and accuracy of voter files, the transparency of ballot processing and tracking, and the implementation of robust ballot curing and risk-limiting audit procedures.

The document outlines the risks associated with private equity's expansion into various U.S. healthcare sectors, detailing financial strategies that prioritize short-term profit over patient safety and recommending stronger regulatory oversight.

An analysis of 476 weather stations from 1973 to 2023 shows that fire weather seasons are lengthening and intensifying across the contiguous United States, with the most significant increases occurring in the West. While the East has seen more modest increases, both regions are experiencing a notable rise in fire weather days during the spring. The Southwest has seen the most dramatic growth, with some areas experiencing fire weather twice as often as they did 50 years ago.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other health professionals are calling on the government of New Brunswick to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) due to significant risks to human health. Citing a range of scientific studies, the authors link fracking to adverse birth outcomes, increased mortality, and higher rates of cancer and respiratory diseases. They also warn that LNG infrastructure releases dangerous pollutants and contributes to climate change, which they identify as the leading global threat to human health.